Retail store configured for bidirectional communication between a plurality of product shelf areas and a plurality of portable cards

ABSTRACT

A system for creating, dispensing, and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. The system includes a “smart card”, product stations adjacent to selected products in the store, and a checkout station in the checkout area. To create an electronic coupon, the customer inserts the card into the product station adjacent to an product the customer wishes to purchase, and the product station then writes an electronic coupon onto the card. The customer thus shops throughout the store collecting electronic coupons for products of interest. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, when UPC data matches data stored on the card, the customer is credited with the value of the corresponding coupon. Periodically, the electronic coupon data is transferred to a remote clearing house.

This Application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/518,095 ofKEN R. POWELL filed Mar. 3, 2000 for RETAIL STORE CONFIGURED FORBIDIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF PRODUCT SHELF AREASAND A PLURALITY OF PORTABLE CARDS now U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,891, which isa Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/032,001 of KEN R. POWELL filedFeb. 27, 1998 for RETAIL STORE CONFIGURED FOR BIDIRECTIONALCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF PRODUCT SHELF AREAS AND A PLURALITYOF PORTABLE CARDS, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,988, which is a Divisional ofapplication Ser. No. 08/468,820 of KEN R. POWELL filed Jun. 6, 1995 forDEVICE FOR PROGRAMMING RETAIL SYSTEM, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,153.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a retail system and, moreparticularly, to a device and method for programming an electronicretail system that provides discounts for selected products within astore.

2. Description of Related Art

Discount coupons are a popular means to stimulate sales of products suchas grocery store items. In 1992, approximately 310 billion coupons weredistributed and 7.7 billion coupons were redeemed, saving customers $4billion. It has been estimated that in-store couponing coupled withadvertising increases sales by 544%.

A typical marketing scheme involves placing coupons in a newspaper, byprinting the coupons in the newspaper or by inserting coupon insertsinto the newspaper, and allowing customers to bring the printed couponsto a store for redemption. One problem with this scheme is that theredemption rate is typically only a few percent of the coupons printed,the unredeemed coupons representing an overhead associated with thisscheme. To alleviate this overhead, another marketing scheme involvesdistributing the coupons in the store, thereby avoiding the cost ofprinting coupons in a newspaper, and capitalizing on the fact that 66%of buyer decisions are made at the time of product purchase. Both thein-store scheme and the newspaper scheme, however, are susceptible tofraud by an unscrupulous retailer that requests reimbursement paymentsby presenting unredeemed coupons to the clearing house. Other schemesinclude delivering coupons to consumers through the mail, distributingcoupons in or on the product package, and distributing coupons atcheckout. All of these schemes have an overhead cost of handling thecoupons and of sending the redeemed coupons to a clearing house toenable product manufacturers to reimburse retailers for the reduction inproceeds resulting from coupon redemptions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient andstimulating shopping environment, having relatively low overhead.

To achieve this object of the present invention, there is a method for asystem including a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers,each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing aplurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for aplurality of products, and a store including a plurality of areas eachincluding a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, theplurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having acommon symbol different than a symbol of units of another product. Thesystem further includes a plurality of interfaces, each including aninterface junction from which signals exit the interface. The methodcomprises the steps, performed for each interface, of detecting, in theinterface, a card in the plurality of cards, at time when the interfaceis supported by a shelf in a respective one of the plurality of areasand located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective productsuch that no units of another product are between the interface and theplurality of units; and sending a respective first signal through theinterface junction to the card detected in the previous step, at a timewhen the interface is supported the shelf and the respective firstsignal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented bythe units adjacent to the interface.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a systemfor operating with a plurality of portable cards transported byconsumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory forstoring a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information fora plurality of products, and a store having a plurality of areas eachincluding a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, theplurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having acommon symbol different than a symbol of units of another product. Thesystem comprises a plurality of interfaces, each interface including aninterface junction from which signals exit the interface, a storagedevice for storing a respective first signal, a detector that detects acard in the plurality of cards, at a time when the interface issupported by a shelf of one of the areas in the store and locatedadjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such thatno units of another product are between the interface and the pluralityof units, and a sender that sends a signal through the interfacejunction to a card detected by the detector, at a time when theinterface is supported by a shelf and the first signal corresponds topricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent tothe interface; and a programmer that programs the storage device of aninterface with the respective first signal.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is asystem for operating with a plurality of portable cards transported byconsumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory forstoring a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information fora plurality of products, and a store having a plurality of first areaseach including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product,the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units havinga common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, anda checkout area, spatially removed from the plurality of first areas.The system comprises a plurality of interfaces, each interface includingan interface junction from which signals exit the interface, a storagedevice for storing a respective first signal, a detector that detects acard in the plurality of cards, at a time when the interface issupported by a shelf of one of the first areas in the store and locatedadjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such thatno units of another product are between the interface and the pluralityof units, and a sender that sends a signal through the interfacejunction to a card detected by the detector, at a time when theinterface is supported by a shelf and the first signal corresponds topricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent tothe interface; a programmer that programs the storage device of aninterface with the respective first signal; and the following elements,located in the checkout area: a receiver for receiving signalscorresponding to pricing information from the memory of the card, in theplurality of cards; an electromagnetic detector for generating a secondsignal corresponding to a product; a receiver for receiving the secondsignal; and a price determiner for determining a price depending onwhether the second signal corresponds to one of the received signalscorresponding to pricing information.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is asystem for operating with a store and a plurality of portable cardstransported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and amemory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricinginformation for a plurality of products. The store includes a pluralityof areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respectiveproduct, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality ofunits having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of anotherproduct. The system comprises a plurality of interfaces, each includingan interface junction from which signals exit the interface, means forholding a respective first signal, means for detecting a card in theplurality of cards, at time when the interface is supported by a shelfin one of the plurality of areas and located adjacent to the pluralityof units of the respective product such that no units of another productare between the interface and the plurality of units, and means forsending the stored first signal through the interface junction to thecard detected in the previous step, at a time when the interface issupported the shelf and the respective first signal corresponds topricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent tothe interface; means for programming the holding means of an interfacewith the respective first signal.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is asystem of operating with a store and a plurality of portable cardstransported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and amemory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricinginformation for a plurality of products. The store includes a pluralityof first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of arespective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, theplurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol ofunits of another product, a checkout

To achieve this object of the present invention, there is a method for asystem including a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers,each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing aplurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for aplurality of products, and a store including a plurality of areas eachincluding a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, theplurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having acommon symbol different than a symbol of units of another product. Thesystem further includes area including an electromagnetic detector,spatially removed from the plurality of first areas. The systemcomprises a plurality of interfaces, each including an interfacejunction from which signals exit the interface, means for holding arespective first signal, means for detecting a card in the plurality ofcards, at time when the interface is supported by a shelf in one of theplurality of areas and located adjacent to the plurality of units of therespective product such that no units of another product are between theinterface and the plurality of units, and means for sending the storedfirst signal through the interface junction to the card detected in theprevious step, at a time when the interface is supported the shelf andthe respective first signal corresponds to pricing information for theproduct represented by the units adjacent to the interface; means forprogramming the holding means of an interface with the respective firstsignal, means for receiving, in a computer, signals corresponding topricing information from the memory of the card, in the plurality ofcards, carried to the checkout area; means for generating, in theelectromagnetic detector, a second signal corresponding to a product;means for receiving, in the computer, the second signal; and a pricedeterminer for determining a price depending on whether the secondsignal corresponds to one of the received signals corresponding topricing information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a schematic diagram of a retail system in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are enlarged views of some of the products shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of one of the customer cards in the preferredsystem.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the card shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is an enlarged, partial view of the card shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the customer card.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of one of the product stations for transferring anelectronic coupon to the card.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the product station shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the check-out station shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a processing performed by one of the productstations.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams of some memory contents of the customercard at different points in time.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams of some memory contents of one of theproduct stations at different points in time.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of a processing performed by the check-outstation.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a processing performed by one of the customercards.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a system including a clearing house andmultiple check-out stations.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a check-out counter in accordance with analternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a processing performed by the check-outstation shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a customer card according to analternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a processing performed by the customer cardshown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a programming card in the preferredsystem.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a processing performed by the programmingcard.

FIG. 20A is a plan view of one of the programming card in the preferredsystem.

FIG. 20B is a side view of the card shown in FIG. 20A.

FIG. 20C is an enlarged, partial view of the card shown in FIG. 20A.

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and which constitutea part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the inventionand, together with the description, explain the principles of theinvention, and additional advantages thereof. Throughout the drawings,corresponding parts are labeled with corresponding reference numbers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a grocery store 1000 in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are each apartial view of store 1000. Customers 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 270, 280,and 290, shop in the store. Before shopping in the store, each of thesecustomers obtained a customer card. For example, customer 230 obtainedcustomer card 235 from a bank, by completing an application for thebank. The application contained questions to collect demographic data,including birth date, income level, past buying patterns, geographiclocation, size of family, level of education, and job-related data. Thebank subsequently wrote customer identification data for customer 230onto customer card 235, and issued customer card 235 to customer 230,and sent the customer's demographic data to a clearinghouse which thenstored the demographic data on disk. Each of customers 210, 220, 240,250, 270, 280, and 290 obtains a respective customer card in a similarmanner. In other words, for each customer the preferred method writesdemographic data for the customer onto a disk in the clearinghouse, andwrites personal identification data for the customer onto a respectivecard for the customer.

After redemption data, including customer identification data from aplurality of cards, is compiled and sent to a clearinghouse, asdescribed below, the customer identification data is used to access thecorresponding demographic data, thereby providing the manufacturer withvaluable marketing data on coupon program effectiveness and customerdemographics.

Alternatively, a customer may have obtained a customer card from astore, such as store 1000, by completing a check cashing applicationhaving questions to collect demographic data

Store 1000 includes shelves 10, 20, and 30, defining aisles between theshelves. The supermarket has a plurality of product areas, eachcorresponding to a respective product. Product Area 110 has Acme brandammonia. Product Area 120 has Delta brand dish detergent. Product Area130 has Lighthouse brand light bulbs.

Some of the product areas have a respective station for reading acustomer card, described in more detail below. Product Area 110 hasStation 115. Product Area 120 has Station 125. Product Area 130 hasStation 135.

More specifically, Product Area 110 has bottles of ammonia 112 groupedtogether on multiple shelves. Bottles of ammonia 112 are contiguouslygrouped, meaning that no other product is between any two bottles ofammonia 112. No other product is between product station 115 and bottlesof ammonia 112. Product Station 115 is on a shelf under some of thebottles 112 and over some of the bottles 112. In other words, Station115 is adjacent to bottles 112 and supported by a shelf that is invertical alignment with some of the bottles 112.

FIG. 2A shows an enlarged view of some of the bottles of ammonia 112.Each bottle of ammonia has a common Universal Product Code (UPC) label114, which is a group of parallel lines that encodes a number thatuniquely identifies acme ammonia. In other words, label 114 is differentthan labels of units of other products. Each bottle of ammonia 112 alsohas a common character label 113. Character label 113 is “ACME AMMONIA.”Label 113 is different than labels of units of other products.

Product Area 120 has boxes of detergent 122 grouped together on multipleshelves. Boxes of detergent 120 are contiguously grouped, meaning thatno other product is between any two boxes of detergent 120. No otherproduct is between product station 125 and boxes of detergent 122.Product Station 125 is on a shelf under some of the boxes 122. In otherwords, station 125 is adjacent to boxes 122 and supported by a shelf invertical alignment with some of the boxes 122.

FIG. 2B shows an enlarged view of some of the boxes of detergent 122.Each box of detergent 122 has a common Universal Product Code (UPC)label 124, which is a group of parallel lines that encodes a number thatuniquely identifies delta detergent. In other words, label 124 isdifferent than labels of units of other products. Each box of detergent124 also has a common character label 123. Character label 123 is “DELTADETERGENT.” Label 123 is different than labels of units of otherproducts.

Product Area 130 has boxes of light bulbs 132 grouped together onmultiple shelves. Boxes of light bulbs 132 are contiguously grouped,meaning that no other product is between two boxes of light bulbs 132.No other product is between product station 135 and boxes of light bulbs132. Product Station 135 is on a shelf under some of the boxes 132. Inother words, station 135 is adjacent to boxes 132 and supported by ashelf in vertical alignment with some of the boxes 132.

FIG. 2C shows an enlarged view of some of the boxes of light bulbs 132.Each box of light bulbs 132 has a common Universal Product Code (UPC)label 134, which is a group of parallel lines that encodes a number thatuniquely identifies Lighthouse light bulbs. In other words, label 134 isdifferent than labels of other products. Each box 132 also has a commoncharacter label 133. Character label 133 is “LIGHTHOUSE LIGHT BULBS.”Label 133 is different than labels of other products.

Similarly, other product area in the store each have a set of respectiveproducts contiguously grouped together and a corresponding productstation adjacent to the products. The respective units of a certainproduct have a common label, different than labels on units of otherproducts, that uniquely identifies the certain product. No other productis between a product station and the units of the corresponding product.Product area 140 has bottles of ketchup 142 contiguously groupedtogether, and product station 145 adjacent to the bottles of ketchup142. Product area 160 has loaves of bread 162 contiguously groupedtogether, and product station 165 adjacent to loaves of bread 162.Product area 170 has cartons of milk 172 contiguously grouped together,and product station 175 adjacent to cartons of milk 172. Product area180 has packages of bacon 182, and product station 185 adjacent topackages of bacon 182. Product area of 190 has packages of butter 192contiguously grouped together and product station 195 adjacent topackages of butter 192.

Product area 150 has boxes of cereal 152 contiguously grouped together.Product area 150 does not have a product station.

While shopping in store 1000, each of customers 210, 220, 230, 240, 250,270, 280, and 290 carries his or her respective customer card. Customer210 carries card 215, customer 220 carries card 225, customer 230carries card 235, customer 240 carries card 245, customer 250 carriescard 255, customer 270 carries card 275, customer 280 carries card 285,and customer 290 carries card 295. Each customer tows a shopping cart tohold selected products. Customer 210 tows cart 212, customer 220 towscart 222, customer 230 tow cart 232, customer 240 tows cart 242,customer 250 tows cart 252, customer 270 tows cart 272, customer 280tows cart 282, and customer 290 tows care 292. To create an electroniccoupon, the customer inserts the card into the product station adjacentto a product the customer wishes to purchase, and the product stationthen writes an electronic coupon onto the card. In other words, theproduct station writes an electronic coupon into a memory on the card,in response to a person presenting the card at the product station. Thecustomer then removes the product from the shelf and places the removedproduct into her cart. The customer thus shops throughout the storecollecting electronic coupons for products of interest.

The preferred method thus includes a step, performed for a plurality ofthe customer cards, of writing a product identification signal,corresponding to a selected product, onto the customer card.

Upon completion of shopping, the customer brings selected products fromshelves 10, 20, and 30 to checkout counter 700. The customer redeems theelectronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting her customer cardinto checkout station 715. For example, a customer such as customer 290in FIG. 1B completes the purchase of her selected products 293 bytransferring products 293 from her cart 292 to counter 700, and byinserting card 295 into checkout station 715. Subsequently, a checkoutclerk (not shown) scans each selected product past UPC bar code reader710. Bar code reader 710 is an optical detector. In other words, barcode reader 710 detects an electromagnetic signal. A processor coupledto station 715 and reader 710 determines whether the most recentlyscanned product is on a discount list stored in card 295. If the mostrecently scanned product is identified in this discount list, a pricefor the product is determined using the discount data corresponding tothe product, and the resulting price is displayed on display 717.Checkout counter 700 scans and processes each product 293 in a similarmanner.

Similarly customer 280 in FIG. 1B will complete the purchase of herselected products 283 by transferring products 283 from her cart 282 tocounter 700, and by inserting card 285 into checkout station 715; andthe checkout clerk (not shown) will scan each selected product 283 pastUPC bar code reader 710. Customer 270 will complete the purchase of herselected products 273 by transferring products 273 from her cart 272 tocounter 700, and by inserting card 275 into checkout station 715; andthe checkout clerk (not shown) will scan each selected product 273 pastUPC bar code reader 710.

Periodically, checkout counter 700 sends redemption data to anelectronic clearing house. This redemption data includes theidentification of the store and of the customers who presentedelectronic coupons for redemption.

FIG. 3A shows a plan view of customer card 215 carried by customers 210,and FIG. 3B shows a side view of card 215. Card 215 is 8.5 cm by 5.4 cm,the length and width of a typical financial credit card. Card 215 isslightly thicker than a typical financial credit card. Card 215 includesa magnetic stripe 2410, interface contacts 2420 for communication withthe product stations and the checkout station, and embossed area 2430for displaying the card owner's name. Magnetic stripe 2410 allows aconventional credit card stripe reader to read basic data from the cardMagnetic stripe 2410 is not necessary to the operation of the preferredembodiment of the invention, described in more detail below.

FIG. 3C shows interface contacts 2420 in more detail. Interface contacts2420 are configured in accordance with ISO7816-2: 1988(E),Identification cards—Integrated circuit (s) cards with contact—Part 2:Dimensions and locations of the contacts, promulgated by theInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO), and available fromthe American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 11 West 42nd Street,New York, N.Y. 10036. According to ISO 7816-2, contact 2421 is assignedto VCC (supply voltage), contact 2422 is assigned to RST (reset signal),contact 2423 is assigned to CLK (clock signal), contact 2424 is reservedfor future use, contact 2425 is assigned to GND (ground), contact 2426is assigned to VPP (program and voltage), contact 2427 is assigned toI/O (data input/output), and contact 2428 is reserved for future use.Card 215 communicates with the product stations and the checkoutstations through contact 2427 using a half duplex scheme, meaning thatcontact 2427 is for communicating data signals either to or from thecard.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of customer card 215, including centralprocessing unit 2450, memory 2460, and battery 2470 for supplying powerto interface 2425, processor 2450, and memory 2460. Memory 2460 is arandom access, addressable device. Station interface 2425 includes aserial to parallel converter for transferring data signals betweencontact 2427 and CPU 2450 over parallel bus 2452. Memory 2460 stores aprogram 2465 executed by processor 2450, customer identification data2467, and authorization data 2468. Customer identification data 2467includes a sequence of digits that uniquely identifies the holder of thecard. Customer identification data 2467 includes the card holders socialsecurity number. For example, identification data 2467 in customer card235 uniquely identifies customer 230. Authorization data 2468 includes asequence of digits that includes a code identifying the store or storesin which the card may be used to obtain a paperless coupon.Authorization data 2468 also includes date data indicating an expirationdate for the card. Depending on the card holder's contractualrelationship with the card issuer, the card issuer may periodicallyupdate this date data to renew the card when the current date dataindicates the card is expired. Store authorization data 2468 alsocontains a field identifying that the card is a customer card (ratherthan a programing card, which is described below).

Memory 2460 also stores product data received from one or more of theproduct stations. This product data includes a list of product discounts2435. When a customer inserts a customer card into one of the productstations, processor 2450 receives an identification code for the productfrom the station and adds the code to the list.

Each of customer cards 225, 235, 245, 355, 275, and 295 has the samehardware structure as customer card 215.

Programming card 55 has the same hardware structure as customer card215. FIG. 20A shows a plan view of programming card 55, and FIG. 20Bshows a side view of card 55. Card 55 is 8.5 cm by 5.4 cm, the lengthand width of a typical financial credit card. Card 55 is slightlythicker than a typical financial credit card Card 55 includes interfacecontacts 2420 for communication with the product stations and thecheckout station, and embossed area 2430 for displaying informationabout the card.

FIG. 20C shows interface contacts 2420 in more detail. Interfacecontacts 2420 are configured in accordance with IS07816-2: 1988(E),Identification cards—Integrated circuit.(s) cards with contact—Part 2:Dimensions and locations of the contacts, promulgated by theInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO), and available fromthe American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 11 West 42nd Street,New York, N.Y. 10036. According to ISO 7816-2, contact 2421 is assignedto VCC (supply voltage), contact 2422 is assigned to RST (reset signal),contact 2423 is assigned to CLK (clock signal), contact 2424 is reservedfor future use, contact 2425 is assigned to GND (ground), contact 2426is assigned to VPP (program and voltage), contact 2427 is assigned toI/O (data input/output), and contact 2428 is reserved for future use.Card 55 communicates with the product stations through contact 2427using a half duplex scheme, meaning that contact 2427 is forcommunicating data signals either to or from the card.

Other features of the preferred system are the subject of copendingapplication Ser. No. 08/468,816 of KEN R. POWELL for RETAIL SYSTEM,filed concurrently with the instant application on Jun. 6, 1995.

FIG. 5 shows product station 115, including green light 4155, red light4160, and interface slot 4170. Station 115 also has an optional liquidcrystal display (LCD) for displaying product promotional messages.Interface slot 4170 has a width sufficient to accommodate the width ofone of the customer cards. When a customer card is in interface slot4170, conductive contact 4177 inside interface slot 4170 touches contact2427 on the customer card. Interface slot 4170 has other contacts (notshown) for touching the other card contacts 2420.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of station 115, including centralprocessing unit 5160, memory 5165, and battery 5170. Memory 5165 storesprogram 5145, executed by CPU 5160, and product data 5135. Memory 5165is a random access, addressable device.

Station 115 has no external wires connecting station 115 to anotherdevice. There is no need for external wires because station 115 ispowered by its own battery 5170, and is programmed by programming card55 described in more detail below.

Each product station has the same hardware structure as product station115. Each product station is locked to one of the shelves with a keyedlock.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of checkout counter 700 shown in FIG. 1B. Disk725 provides long term storage. CPU 750 executes instructions in randomaccess, addressable memory 720. The hardware architecture of checkoutstation 715 is the same as the hardware architecture of checkout station215, described above. Transformer 705 transforms 60 Hz line power intoDC power and provides the DC power to CPU 750 memory 720, UPC reader710, checkout station 715, and other electronics within checkout counter700.

CPU 750 and program 722 act to detect a product scanned by UPC reader710, determine a reference price for the product, search for theproduct's identification in the memory of a customer card, and deduct adiscount from the reference price if the product is identified in thecustomer card memory. CPU 750 then displays the price of the product ondisplay 717. CPU 750 writes coupon redemption data onto disk 725.Periodically, CPU 750 sends the redemption data to an electronicclearing house through modem 730.

FIG. 8 shows a processing performed by processor 5160 and program 5145in product station 115. CPU 5160 and a program in memory 5165 act toperform the processing shown in FIG. 8. When a person inserts a cardinto interface slot 4170 a switch (not shown) in interface slot 4170alerts CPU 5160 that a card has been inserted into the slot.Subsequently, CPU 5160 causes card interface 4170 to reset the card byapplying a clock signal to contact 2423. (if the card is a customercard, the card then answers the reset by sending a block of data,including identification data 2467 and authorization data 2468, throughcard contact 2427. Authorization data 2468 contains a card-type codeindicating a customer card. If the card is a programming card, the cardsend then answers the reset by sending a data block, includingauthorization data 2458, through card contact 2427. Authorization data2458 has a card-type code indicating a programming card.) CPU 5160 thenreceives then receives the answer-to-reset data block from the card(step 8010).

The communication protocol between product station 115 and a customercard is described in more detail in ISO/IEC 7816-3: 1989 (E),Identification cards—Integrated circuit(s) cards with contacts—Part 3:Electronic signals and transmission protocols; and ISO/IEC 7816-3:1989/Amd.1: 1992 (E), Part 3: Electronic signals and transmissionprotocols, AMENDMENT 1: Protocol type T=1, asynchronous half duplexblock transmission protocol. Both of these standards are promulgated bythe International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and distributedby the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

CPU 5160 analyzes the authorization data in the received answer-to-resetblock to determine whether the card is a customer card that is eligibleto receive paperless coupons in store 1000 (step 8020). CPU 5160determines that the card is a customer card if the receivedauthorization data contains a card-type code indicating a customer card.If the card is a customer card, meaning that the authorization data isauthorization data 2468, CPU 5160 determines if the card is eligible toreceive paperless coupons in store 1000 if authorization data 2468contains a store code indicating store 1000, and the current time anddate (as indicated by a date-time clock inside processor 4160) is notlater than the date data in authorization data 2468. If the card is aneligible customer card, CPU 5160 sends to the customer card a blockcontaining a station-type code indicating a product station, and productcoupon data 5135 from locations 250-275 (step 8040). Product coupon data5135 includes an identification code for the product currently beingpromoted by the product station (bottles of ammonia 112) and thediscount currently being offered for that product. CPU 5160 then turnson green light 4160 to indicate to the customer that an electroniccoupon has successfully been transferred to her customer card (step8060), thereby allowing the customer to conveniently verify whether sheis eligible for a discount before selecting the product.

FIG. 9A shows some the contents list 2435 in starting at location 30memory 2460 of customer card 215, before CPU 5160 of the product stationexecutes step 8040. An electronic coupon is represented by three rows inlist 2435: a 12 digit UPC product code in the first row, discount formatdata in the second row (“1” signifying cents. “2” signifyingpercentage), and discount quantity data in the third row. In FIG. 9A,the customer card is storing two electronic coupons in a list startingat location 30 in memory 2460, reflecting the fact that customer 210 hasreceived electronic coupons from two product stations during her currentvisit to store 1000. After CPU 5160 executes step 8040 (thereby sendingan electronic coupon to the customer card), CPU 2450 in customer card215 receives the data and adds the data to list 2435, resulting in threeelectronic coupons in list 2435 as shown in FIG. 9B.

CPU 5160 determines that the card is a programming card if the card-typecode in the received authorization data indicates a programming card. Ifthe card is not a an eligible customer card but is instead a programmingcard meaning that the authorization data is authorization data 2458(step 8070), CPU 5160 sends to a block containing a station-type codeindicating a product station (step 8075), and CPU 5160 receivesadditional data from the card (step 8080) and changes product data 5135by writing the additional data to locations 250-275 (step 8085), therebychanging the electronic coupon dispensed by the product station.

If the card is an ineligible customer card, CPU 5160 turns on red light4155 to notify the consumer that she did not receive a discount for theproduct.

FIG. 10A shows product data 5135 before the execution of step 8085, andFIG. 10B shows product data 5135 after step 8085. The data starting atlocation 250 stores identification for a product In this example productcode “345678901200” corresponds to the UPC code on ammonia bottles 112.Location 274 stores the format of the discount quantity data, with “1”signifying cents and “2” signifying percentage in tenths of a percent.Location 275 stores the discount quality data. In FIG. 10A, becauselocation 275 is storing a 50, the discount being offered for ammoniabottles 112 is 50 cents. In FIG. 9B, the discount being offered foranother product is 100 cents.

FIG. 11 shows a processing performed by CPU 750 and program 722 incheckout counter 700, when a customer checks out of store 1000. When acustomer, such as customer 290, inserts customer card 295 into interfaceslot 714, a switch (not shown) in interface slot 714 alerts CPU 750 thata card has been inserted into the slot. When a customer card is ininterface slot 714, conductive contacts (not shown) inside interfaceslot 714 touch each card contact 2420. Subsequently, CPU 750 causes cardinterface 725 to reset the card by applying a clock signal to cardcontact 2423. (If the card is a customer card, the card then answers thereset by sending a block of data, including identification data 2467 andauthorization data 2468, through card contact 2427.) CPU 750 thenreceives the answer-to-reset from the card (step 11002). CPU 750 thensends a data block containing a station-type code indicating a checkoutstation (step 11004). CPU 750 then receives the contents of table 2435in memory 2460 of the customer card, and temporarily stores these tablecontents in memory 720 of the checkout station (step 11005). During step10005, CPU 750 also causes customer card 295 to remove all entries fromlist 2435, so that the electronic coupons in the list cannot be redeemedagain. When the checkout clerk (not shown) moves a product past UPCreader 710, UPC reader 710 detects the UPC code on the product and sendsthe UPC code to CPU 750 (step 11010). CPU 750 searches the receivedtable contents to determine whether the product scanned is identified inthe table (step 11020). If the product is in the received table, CPU 750subtracts the discount, as determined by the discount data stored in thereceived table, from a product reference price read from disk 725 (step11030), and displays the resulting price of the product on display 717(step 11040).

Product data 5135, customer identification data 2467, authorization data2468, and the data in list 2435 are each a type of signal.

In other words, the preferred retail system 1000 includes product areas110, 120, 130, 140, 160, 170, 180, and 190; product stations 115, 125,135, 145, 165, 175, 185, and 195 acting as a plurality of firstcommunication ports each adjacent to a respective one of the productareas, a plurality of customer cards each having a memory, and acheckout counter 700 having checkout station 715 acting as a secondcommunication port. A method of operating system 1000 comprises thesteps of writing a first signal into memory 2460 of a card in theplurality of cards, in response to a person inserting the card into theinterface slot of one of the product stations, the first signalidentifying a product in the product area adjacent to the one of thefirst communication ports; reading the first signal from memory 2460, inresponse to a person inserting the card into the interface slot of thecheckout station; receiving a second signal, from UPC reader 710,identifying a product; and determining a price for the product dependingon whether the product identified by the first signal, read in thereading step, corresponds to the product identified by the secondsignal.

In summary, after UPC barcode reader 710 scans a product, processor 750determines eligibility for a discount If a product qualifies, processor750 displays the discounted price on display 717. Periodically,electronic coupon data is processed and reported to a clearing house.

FIG. 12 shows a processing performed by one of the customer cards, suchas customer card 215, in the preferred retail system. After the card isreset through contacts 2420, the customer card sends an “answer toreset” data block in accordance with the ISO standard ISO/IEC 7816-3:1989(E), cited above. The customer card sends identification data 2467and authorization data 2468 in the answer-to-reset data block (step12010). If the station then sends a block of data to the customer card,the customer card then receives the block of data through contact 2427(step 12015). If the block contains a station-type code indicating aproduct station (step 12020), the customer card then adds product couponinformation, from a certain location in the block, to the list 2345(step 12030).

If the customer card is not eligible, the station will not send a blockof data, step 12015 therefore does not execute, and processing ceasesuntil the customer card is reinserted into a station, at which time thestation will reset the card and processing will restart at step 12010.

Alternatively, if the block contains a station-type code indicating acheckout station (step 12070), the customer card then sends list 2345 tothe checkout station (step 12080). In other words, CPU 2450 reads list2435 from memory 2460, in response to a customer inserting card 215 intocheckout station 715, and sends a signal corresponding to the list 2345to the checkout station (step 12080).

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of a preferred retail system including aclearinghouse 900, and a plurality of checkout stations 700.Periodically, each checkout station 700 sends a block of datasummarizing the redemption transactions. The checkout stations send thedata blocks, over telephone lines 714, to clearinghouse 900. The blockincludes the data shown in Table 1, below.

TABLE 1 [customer ID 1] [UPC code 1] [customer ID 2] [UPC code 2][customer ID 3] [UPC code 3] [customer ID 4] [UPC code 4] . . .[customer ID n] [UPC code n]

Each row in table 1 records a redemption transaction. Each customer IDnumber is a copy of data 2467 from a customer card. Each UPC code is acopy of product data 5135 from one of the product stations.

Clearinghouse memory 925 stores demographic data records. Each record isindexed by customer ID. As shown in Table 2, below, each row representsa demographic record for a customer. The first entity in each row is therecord key, or index The second entity is date of birth, and the thirdentity is yearly income.

TABLE 2 [customer ID 1] March 12, 1944 30,100 [customer ID 1] March 12,1964 23,700 [customer ID 1] March 12, 1932 30,100 [customer ID 1] March12, 1905 89,000 . . . [customer ID 1] December 12, 1975 19,100

Processor 950 processes transaction data blocks, such as the block shownin Table 1, and uses the customer Ids in the data blocks to accessdemographic records, such as the record shown in Table 2. Processor 950then generates a report summarizing certain trends, such as the reportshown in Table 3, below.

TABLE 3 ACME AMMONIA COUPON REDEMPTIONS FOR MARCH 1995 AGE RANGE TOTALBOTTLES SOLD WITH COUPON 15-25 60,456 (30%) 25-40 102,345 (51%)  40-6014,345 (7%)  over 60 23,456 (12%) all ages 200,602 (100%)

Checkout stations 703 are located within a single company. Checkoutstations 703 are similar to checkout stations 700, described above,except that checkout stations 703 have circuitry for communicating overnetwork 712. Checkout stations 703 send transaction data blocks tocentral financial computer 711 located within the company. Centralfinancial computer 711 periodically sends the compiled transaction datato clearing house 900, over telephone lines 714.

In other words, the system shown in FIG. 13, and the correspondingproduct stations, perform a method of determining retail buyingpatterns. The method writes demographic data, obtained from a customerapplication questionnaires described above, into memory 925. The methodwrites personal identification data 2467 onto customer cards.Subsequently, one or more product stations writes a productidentification data, corresponding to a selected product, onto certainones of the cards. Subsequently, a checkout station reads the personalidentification data 2467 from certain ones of the cards to generate afirst read signals, and reads the product identification data fromcertain ones of the cards to generate second read signals. These firstand second signals are sent to clearinghouse 900, which generates areport using the first and second signals. Clearinghouse 900 generatesthe report by accessing he demographic data, using the first signal, togenerate a demographic signal; and by correlating the demographic signal(indicating age) with the second signal (purchases of ammonia).

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of checkout counter 701 in accordance with analternative embodiment of the present invention. Checkout counter 701 issimilar to checkout counter 700 shown in FIG. 7, except that checkoutcounter 701 has program 723.

FIG. 15 shows a flow chart of a processing performed by CPU 750 andprogram 723 in checkout counter 701. When a customer, such as customer290, inserts customer card 295 into interface 715, CPU 750 causes cardinterface 750 to reset the card (step 15002). CPU 750 then sends a blockof data containing a station-type code indicating a checkout station(step 15005). If there are no product remaining to be scanned (step15007), the checkout clerk (not shown) presses the “total” button 719 oncash register 718, causing CPU 750 to display the total price(accumulated from step 15040) on display 717, and to send the card adata block containing zero in the first word (step 15008). If there areproducts remaining (step 15007), the clerk moves a product past UPCreader 710, UPC reader 710 detects the UPC code on the product and sendsthe UPC code to CPU 750 (step 15010). CPU 750 then sends a data block tothe card, with the UPC code stored at the first word of the data block(step 15020). In other words, CPU 750 sends a UPC signal, identifying aproduct, to the card. CPU 750 then receives a data block containingdiscount data from the card (step 15030) and displays the resultingprice of the product on display 717 (step 15040). The received discountdata will either be 0, signifying that there is no coupon correspondingto the UPC code sent to the card, or will be non-zero data consisting ofthe discount format and quantity data, described above in connectionwith FIGS. 9A and 9B, corresponding to the UPC code.

FIG. 16 shows customer card 216 in accordance with the alternativeembodiment of the present invention. Customer card 216 is similar tocustomer card 215 described above, except that customer card 216 hasprogram 2466 in memory 2460.

FIG. 17 shows a processing performed by CPU 2450 and program 2466. Afterthe card is reset through contacts 2420, the customer card sends an“answer to reset” data block in accordance with the ISO standard ISO/IEC7816-3: 1989(E), cited above. The customer card also sends dataidentifying the card (step 17010). The customer card then receives ablock of data through contact 2427 (step 17015). If the block contains astation-type code indicating a product station (step 17020), thecustomer card then adds product coupon information, from a certainlocation in the block, to the list 2345 (step 17030). Alternatively, ifthe block contains a station-type code indicating a checkout station(step 17070), the customer card then receives another block from thestation (step 17080). If the first word in the block is non-zero, thereis a UPC code stored in the block (step 17090). The card searches list2345 for this UPC code, sends the station a block containing a zero inthe first word if the UPC code is not in table 2345, or sends thestation a block containing the discount format and discount quantitydata corresponding to the UPC code if the UPC code is in table 2345.Processing then returns to step 17080.

If the first word in the block received in step 17080 is zero(indicating that the last product has been scanned), the card then exitsthe loop of steps 17080, 17090, and 17100, and processing returns tostep 17010.

An advantage of the alternative embodiment of the invention is that thesoftware in the checkout station need only send UPC codes to thecustomer card and receive discount data from the customer card allowingthe invention to be practiced using relatively simple modifications toconventional checkout station software. Further, the integrity of theconventional checkout station is assured since no complicated foreignsoftware need be intermingled with the conventional checkout stationsoftware.

A variation of the alternative embodiment is to have the customer cardreceive UPC codes from the checkout station as described above, butdefer sending discount data to the checkout station until the lastproduct is scanned. After the last product is scanned, the customer cardwould then send a list of UPC codes, with respective discount data foreach UPC code, to the checkout station

In FIG. 1B, service worker 50 carries a programming card 55 forreprogramming the product stations. The hardware architecture of servicecard 55 is the same as the architecture of customer card 115, discussedabove. The software in the memory of service card 55, however, isdifferent than the software in the customer cards. Service card 55 hassoftware to allow the product station to recognize that service card 55is authorized to alter the memory contents of the product stations, asdiscussed in more detail below. Programming card 55 has a memorycontaining discount data for a product

In other words, product station includes an electrical contact 4177. Thewriting step, described above, communicates between a customer card anda product station through electrical contact 4177. The preferred methodalso includes a step of changing the selected product by sending aprograming signal from the programming card 55 to the product stationthrough electrical contact 4177.

In other words, service worker 55 creates a signal path to one of theproduct stations by inserting programing card 55 into the interface slotof the product station The programming card then changes the selectedproduct by sending a programming signal to the product station throughcontact 4177. Service worker 55 then breaks the signal path by removingprogramming card 55.

FIG. 18 shows a block diagram of a programming card 55 in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Programming card55 is similar to customer card 215, except that programming card hasprogram 2455, authorization data 2458, and new discount data 2555 inaddressable, random access memory 2460. Authorization data 2458 and newdiscount data 2555 are each a type of signal.

FIG. 19 shows a processing performed by CPU 2450 and program 2455 inprogram card 55. After programming card 55 is reset through contacts2420, programming card 55 sends authorization data 2458 in ananswer-to-reset data block in accordance with the ISO standard ISO/IEC7816-3: 1989(E), cited above (step 19010). Authorization data 2458 has acard-type code indicating that the card is a programming card.Programming card 55 then receives a block of data through contact 2427(step 19015). If the block contains a station-type code indicating aproduct station (step 19020), the programming card 55 card then sendsdiscount data 2555 (step 19030).

Thus, the preferred system provides a convenient and stimulatingshopping environment without requiring an elaborate hardwareconfiguration throughout the store. The product stations of thepreferred system may be compact, because the product stations need nothave paper transport mechanisms to print paper coupons. This compactnessallows the product stations to be placed adjacent to the correspondingproducts.

Demographic data and redemption data, compiled by the checkout station,provide manufactures with timely feedback about the effectiveness ofproduct promotion programs. The potential for coupon fraud andmisredemption is reduced, as each coupon is ultimately traceable to anindividual customer.

Although the illustrated portable customer card and portable programmingcard are each 8.5 cm long by 5.4 cm wide, the invention may be practiceswith other portable card dimensions. Preferably the portable carddimension is less than 15 cm long by 10 cm wide.

Although the preferred system employs a programming card, having aninterface compatible with the customer card interface on each productstation, the invention may be practiced with other types of programminginterfaces, disengaged from the product station except when program isperformed. For example, instead of a programming card, a service workermay carry a portable computer that temporarily connects to the productstation with a cable. With this cable scheme, the service worker createsa signal path to the product station by plugging the cable into theproduct station. The portable computer then changes the selected productby sending a programming signal through the cable to the productstation. Subsequently, the service worker breaks the signal path bydisconnecting the cable from the product station.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is thereforenot limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, andillustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures maybe made from such details without departing from the spirit or the scopeof Applicants' general inventive concept. The invention is defined inthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for a system including a plurality ofportable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flatsubstrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals correspondingto pricing information for a plurality of products, and a storeincluding a plurality of areas each including a shelf, a plurality ofunits of a respective product, the plurality of units being on theshelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than asymbol of units of another product, the system further includingplurality of interfaces, each including an interface junction from whichsignals exit the interface, the method comprising the steps, performedfor each interface, of: detecting, in the interface, a card in theplurality of cards, at time when the interface is supported by a shelfin a respective one of the plurality of areas and located adjacent tothe plurality of units of the respective product such that no units ofanother product are between the interface and the plurality of units;and sending a respective first signal through the interface junction tothe card detected in the previous step, at a time when the interface issupported the shelf and the respective first signal corresponds topricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent tothe interface.
 2. The method of claim 1 further including storing therespective first signal in the interface, at a time when the interfaceis supported the shelf.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein sending isperformed at a time when the card is touching the interface.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of cards furtherincludes a card electrical contact and the interface junction of each ofthe plurality of interfaces includes an interface electrical contact,and sending includes sending a current from the interface electricalcontact to the card electrical contact.
 5. The method of claim 1 furtherincluding the step, performed for each interface, of receiving, in theinterface, a multi-digit signal from the card, the receiving step beingperformed after the detecting step.
 6. The method of claim 5 whereineach interface includes a battery for powering the interface, and thestep of sending the respective first signal is performed while poweringthe interface from the battery.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein eachinterface includes a battery for powering the interface and has noexternal wires connecting the interface to another device, and the stepof sending the respective first signal is performed while powering theinterface from the battery.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein eachinterface includes a battery for powering the interface, and the step ofsending the respective first signal is performed while powering theinterface from the battery.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein eachinterface includes a battery for powering the interface and has noexternal wires connecting the interface to another device, and the stepof sending the respective first signal is performed while powering theinterface from the battery.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein eachinterface includes an electronic memory and the method further includeswriting the first signal into the electronic memory.
 11. The method ofclaim 1 wherein each interface includes a random access memory and themethod further includes writing the first signal into the random accessmemory.
 12. A system for operating with a plurality of portable cardstransported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and amemory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricinginformation for a plurality of products, and a store having a pluralityof areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respectiveproduct, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality ofunits having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of anotherproduct, the system comprising: a plurality of interfaces, eachinterface including an interface junction from which signals exit theinterface, a storage device for storing a respective first signal, adetector that detects a card in the plurality of cards, at a time whenthe interface is supported by a shelf of one of the areas in the storeand located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective productsuch that no units of another product are between the interface and theplurality of units, and a sender that sends a signal through theinterface junction to a card detected by the detector, at a time whenthe interface is supported by a shelf and the first signal correspondsto pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacentto the interface; and a programmer that programs the storage device ofan interface with the respective first signal.
 13. The system of claim12 wherein the programmer is in the store.
 14. The system of claim 12wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at atime when the respective first signal is in the storage device, amulti-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14 wherein each interface has no external wiresconnecting the interface to another device.
 16. The system of claim 14wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the sender. 17.The system of claim 14 wherein each interface includes a battery forpowering the interface and has no external wires connecting theinterface to another device.
 18. The system of claim 12 wherein eachinterface includes a battery for powering the interface.
 19. The systemof claim 12 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering theinterface and has no external wires connecting the interface to anotherdevice.
 20. The system of claim 12 wherein each the storage device, ineach of the plurality of interfaces, includes an electronic memory. 21.The system of claim 12 wherein each the storage device, in each of theplurality of interfaces, includes a random access memory.
 22. The systemof claim 21 wherein each interface further includes a receiver thatreceives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the storagedevice, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.23. The system of claim 22 wherein the interface junction is fortouching the card.
 24. The system of claim 12 wherein each of theplurality of cards further includes a card electrical contact and theinterface junction of each of the plurality of interfaces includes aninterface electrical contact for sending a current from the interfaceelectrical contact to the card electrical contact.
 25. A system foroperating with a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers,each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing aplurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for aplurality of products, and a store having a plurality of first areaseach including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product,the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units havinga common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, anda checkout area, spatially removed from the plurality of first areas,the system comprising: a plurality of interfaces, each interfaceincluding an interface junction from which signals exit the interface, astorage device for storing a respective first signal, a detector thatdetects a card in the plurality of cards, at a time when the interfaceis supported by a shelf of one of the first areas in the store andlocated adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective productsuch that no units of another product are between the interface and theplurality of units, and a sender that sends a signal through theinterface junction to a card detected by the detector, at a time whenthe interface is supported by a shelf and the first signal correspondsto pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacentto the interface; a programmer that programs the storage device of aninterface with the respective first signal; and the following elements,located in the checkout area: a receiver for receiving signalscorresponding to pricing information from the memory of the card, in theplurality of cards; an electromagnetic detector for generating a secondsignal corresponding to a product; a receiver for receiving the secondsignal; and a price determiner for determining a price depending onwhether the second signal corresponds to one of the received signalscorresponding to pricing information.
 26. The system of claim 25 whereinthe programmer is in the store.
 27. The system of claim 25 wherein eachinterface further includes a receiver that receives, at a time when therespective first signal is in the storage device, a multi-digit signalfrom the card in the plurality of cards.
 28. The system of claim 27wherein each interface has no external wires connecting the interface toanother device.
 29. The system of claim 27 wherein each interfaceincludes a battery for powering the interface.
 30. The system of claim27 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interfaceand has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.31. The system of claim 25 wherein each interface includes a battery forpowering the interface.
 32. The system of claim 25 wherein eachinterface includes a battery for powering the interface and has noexternal wires connecting the interface to another device.
 33. Thesystem of claim 25 wherein each the storage device, in each of theplurality of interfaces, includes an electronic memory.
 34. The systemof claim 25 wherein each the storage device, in each of the plurality ofinterfaces, includes a random access memory.
 35. The system of claim 34wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at atime when the respective first signal is in the storage device, amulti-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
 36. Thesystem of claim 25 wherein the interface junction is for touching thecard.
 37. The system of claim 25 wherein each of the plurality of cardsfurther includes a card electrical contact and the interface junction ofeach of the plurality of interfaces includes an interface electricalcontact for sending a current from the interface electrical contact tothe card electrical contact.
 38. The system of claim 25 furtherincluding: a reader for reading a third signal identifying a person; anda generator for generating a fourth signal by processing the first,second, and third signals.
 39. A system for operating with a store and aplurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each cardincluding a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality ofsignals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality ofproducts, the store including a plurality of areas each including ashelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality ofunits being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symboldifferent than a symbol of units of another product, the systemcomprising: a plurality of interfaces, each including an interfacejunction from which signals exit the interface, means for holding arespective first signal, means for detecting a card in the plurality ofcards, at time when the interface is supported by a shelf in one of theplurality of areas and located adjacent to the plurality of units of therespective product such that no units of another product are between theinterface and the plurality of units, and means for sending the storedfirst signal through the interface junction to the card detected in theprevious step, at a time when the interface is supported the shelf andthe respective first signal corresponds to pricing information for theproduct represented by the units adjacent to the interface; means forprogramming the holding means of an interface with the respective firstsignal.
 40. The system of claim 39 wherein the programming means is inthe store.
 41. The system of claim 39 wherein each interface furtherincludes a receiver that receives, at a time when the respective firstsignal is in the holding means, a multi-digit signal from the card inthe plurality of cards.
 42. The system of claim 41 wherein eachinterface has no external wires connecting the interface to anotherdevice.
 43. The system of claim 41 wherein each interface includes abattery for powering the interface.
 44. The system of claim 41 whereineach interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has noexternal wires connecting the interface to another device.
 45. Thesystem of claim 39 wherein each interface includes a battery forpowering the interface.
 46. The system of claim 39 wherein eachinterface includes a battery for powering the interface and has noexternal wires connecting the interface to another device.
 47. Thesystem of claim 39 wherein each the holding means, in each of theplurality of interfaces, includes an electronic memory.
 48. The systemof claim 39 wherein each the holding means, in each of the plurality ofinterfaces, includes a random access memory.
 49. The system of claim 48wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at atime when the respective first signal is in the holding means, amulti-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
 50. Thesystem of claim 39 wherein the interface junction is for touching thecard.
 51. The system of claim 39 wherein each of the plurality of cardsfurther includes a card electrical contact and the interface junction ofeach of the plurality of interfaces includes an interface electricalcontact for sending a current from the interface electrical contact tothe card electrical contact.
 52. A system of operating with a store anda plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each cardincluding a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality ofsignals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality ofproducts, the store including a plurality of first areas each includinga shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality ofunits being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symboldifferent than a symbol of units of another product, a checkout areaincluding an electromagnetic detector, spatially removed from theplurality of first areas, the system comprising: a plurality ofinterfaces, each including an interface junction from which signals exitthe interface, means for holding a respective first signal, means fordetecting a card in the plurality of cards, at time when the interfaceis supported by a shelf in one of the plurality of areas and locatedadjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such thatno units of another product are between the interface and the pluralityof units, and means for sending the stored first signal through theinterface junction to the card detected in the previous step, at a timewhen the interface is supported the shelf and the respective firstsignal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented bythe units adjacent to the interface, means for programming the holdingmeans of an interface with the respective first signal, means forreceiving, in a computer, signals corresponding to pricing informationfrom the memory of the card, in the plurality of cards, carried to thecheckout area; means for generating, in the electromagnetic detector, asecond signal corresponding to a product; means for receiving, in thecomputer, the second signal; and a price determiner for determining aprice depending on whether the second signal corresponds to one of thereceived signals corresponding to pricing information.
 53. The system ofclaim 52 wherein the programming means is in the store.
 54. The systemof claim 52 wherein each interface further includes a receiver thatreceives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the holdingmeans, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards. 55.The system of claim 54 wherein each interface has no external wiresconnecting the interface to another device.
 56. The system of claim 54wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface.57. The system of claim 54 wherein each interface includes a battery forpowering the interface and has no external wires connecting theinterface to another device.
 58. The system of claim 52 wherein eachinterface includes a battery for powering the interface.
 59. The systemof claim 52 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering theinterface and has no external wires connecting the interface to anotherdevice.
 60. The system of claim 52 wherein each the holding means, ineach of the plurality of interfaces, includes an electronic memory. 61.The system of claim 52 wherein each the holding means, in each of theplurality of interfaces, includes a random access memory.
 62. The systemof claim 61 wherein each interface further includes a receiver thatreceives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the holdingmeans, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards. 63.The system of claim 52 wherein the interface junction is for touchingthe card.
 64. The system of claim 52 wherein each of the plurality ofcards further includes a card electrical contact and the interfacejunction of each of the plurality of interfaces includes an interfaceelectrical contact for sending a current from the interface electricalcontact to the card electrical contact.